>> Wednesday, July 19, 2017

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet –
Around 100 marijuana cultivators in Kibungan, this province have graduated from
drug rehabilitation program of the government out of 240 drug surrenderees.

Among the list
of marijuana cultivators who finished the rehabilitation program is a
72-year-old couple who admitted to have planted marijuana for almost two
decades.

Kibungan
Mayor Caesar Molitas witnessed the ceremony for the 240 rehabilitated drug law
offenders and then declared Barangays Badeo and Takadang in his town cleared of
marijuana plantations.

However,
Molitas clarified that despite declaring the areas “cleared” of marijuana
plantations, more work has to be done to declare them as “drug-free barangays.”

Citing
reports from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera and the Benguet
Provincial Police Office, Molintas said this is because there are still five
drug personalities in the municipality.

Meanwhile,
Senior Supt. Florante Camuyot, provincial police director, said the
construction of farm-to-market roads in far-flung barangays where most of the
marijuana cultivators come from, could boost security patrols, spur business
and end marijuana trade in Benguet.